GROWMARK is recognizing the efforts of five crop specialists who have excelled at engaging farmers in using sustainable, best-management practices.  The GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate award is given for working with farmers to increase their use of the 4R approach; applying fertilizers at the right source, right rate, right time and right place, and for encouraging growers to use a nitrogen monitoring program like N-WATCH.

This year’s winners are: Logan Haake, precision ag manager at Legacy Farmers Cooperative; Rick Klevze, Certified Crop Advisor at GROWMARK FS since 1994; Malcolm Stambaugh, crop specialist for Ag View FS; Jason Wesslund, area manager for the eastern half of Heritage FS; and Chris Snip, CCA with AGRIS Co-operative.

“We are excited to recognize these crop specialists for their dedication to working with farmers on sustainable best management practices,” said Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK director of agronomy marketing. “We had a very deep pool of candidates who work diligently to improve water quality, manage nutrients sustainably, and engage in soil conservation practices. These initiatives are paramount to all of us throughout the GROWMARK and FS Systems,” he added.

The five crop specialists were nominated by their member companies. A selection committee comprised of individuals from the agriculture industry outside of the GROWMARK System served as judges. Winners will receive recognition for their achievement and an all-expense-paid trip with their spouse to attend the 2016 GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium. This is the first year for the Endure 4R Advocate award and is part of the GROWMARK System sustainability initiative Endure.